Thanks to Net Galley and Tor Publishing for the ARC! This book definitely lived up to the Knives Out and Inheritance Game vibes with a cool touch of magic. I found myself engulfed in the story to the point where I didn't see most of the twists and turns coming- especially towards the end. I loved how every character was well thought out and they all had their own personalities and growth. It did take me a little while to really remember who was who though and which family line they were with. I had this same issue with Inheritance Games so i think i either need minimal characters or they have to be so different that they stand out easily. The beginning took me a little while to get through but once all the action started happening it was like a rollercoaster. Also love some solid closure at the end with a pretty little bow and I think we got that!

The Lies We Conjure is a pretty evenly-paced mystery full of magic and intrigue. It's got a lot to offer for fans of fantasy and mysteries both, with a sliver of YA romance to hit all the major beats.

The major plot follows a couple of sisters who take on the roles of an old lady's daughters for a family dinner, who are then mistaken as members of a coven of witches all vying for power over one another's family lines. Along the way, they meet some hunky heirs to a witch line, and gather together to hunt some magical relics and solve a murder. It's all fun and games, but the real story here is about identity--whether it be trying to mask who you are out of fear of rejection (or, like, murder), or trying to determine your role in a dynastic future.

It's the latter elements that kept me solidly hooked on this book, working through what Sarah Henning is trying to explore as it regards growing up and negotiating one's place in a complicated future. Like a lot of YA, it's very much concerned with making sense of what we inherit, and there's a lot of power (and hope!) in that exploration. The genre trappings--witches and magic and murder and clue-solving--were all there to keep pages flying, but those elements only serve that central thematic premise, which works really well.

I am not a YA fantasy reader per se, but I found this one to be a whole lot of fun, and my closing thoughts were that I really wouldn't mind revisiting these characters as they negotiate the world they've built for themselves. The genre blending was great, but it's the emotional core of these characters and their thematic stakes that really makes this book sparkle.

Disclosure Statement: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. My thoughts and opinions of the book are entirely my own and have not been influenced in any way by either author or publisher.

First off, let me start by saying I probably shouldn't have started this book when I did because I had a few other books going at the time. I'm thinking if I only read this book, I would have gotten through it faster and maybe wouldn't have been as disconnected as I felt in the beginning. That being said, it was a solid read and a fantastic mystery. But in the beginning, I'm not sure why but it took me til about 30% into the book to really start getting into it and actually understand all the families and magic system that was in play.

I really do enjoy the characters. Each family had a diverse cast and I liked that we got two perspectives throughout the book. I love Ruby and Wren and how it all ended made me very happy.

I almost hope there is a sequel so we can see how things develop but if there is a sequel, please put I'm a recap lol cause I feel like I will be lost all over again if not.

Book:
THE LIES WE CONJURE by Sarah Henning
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the Arc (Sept 17)

Review:
3⭐
THE LIES WE CONJURE follows Ruby and Wren who were pulled into a world of trouble when asked to pretend to be someone else at an dinner at Hegemony Manner
I'm not entirely sure how I felt about this book. I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it either. I was more neutral---a little bit of both.
From page one, I wasn't pulled in the way I wanted to be. Yes, I was intrigued, but for awhile the most that happened was a d*ath. Then there were a hundred+ pages of what felt like nothing. However...the pacing of THE LIES WE CONJURE eventually picked up. The second half of this book had me hooked in a way that I didn't think was possible. The action picked up, the magic picked up---and it eventually turned into something that was kind of worth the read. Honestly, if this had the first few chapters, plus the last half, minus the middle, it may have been a five star read for me.

It's been a minute since I've dived fully into fantasy, but I had so much fun with Sarah Henning's The Lies We Conjure. While there were moments that didn't quite work and that felt a little out of place, I stayed up until 2am trying to to finish the novel—which is always a good sign.

The murder-mystery keep me on my toes and once we got into the thick of it, I was in deep. I did slightly wish for a more complex —it felt a little too on the nose near the end. Or, maybe a little expansion to it. The mystery itself got wrapped up a little too quickly and neatly near the end. I also found that the language and dialogue felt off at time. It was almost as if she put key words into a thesaurus and plugged words in. The sentence would read normal and then all of a sudden, there was something that just didn't sound natural or out of place for the character speaking.

But, I did enjoy the twists along the way and about the world Henning built. The romance itself was cute—again, some of the side romance felt a little out-of-nowhere. Even with everything that didn't quite work, I still had fun reading and lost sleep wanting to finish so, I can't rate it too low.

The Lies We Conjure follows sisters Ruby and Wren after being offered a job impersonating an old woman’s grandchildren at a fancy dinner party in a haunted mansion. It’s an easy yes for the girls as they need the money for college. But when someone is murdered at the dinner table and the party guests are revealed to be witches, the sisters realize they are in way over their head. And might not make it out alive.

I’m a sucker for any comp title for Clue or Knives Out, and this was executed so well! I had such a fun time reading. The vibes were so good and I loved the murder-mystery aspect with witches—it made for a fun thriller. I also loved that they were locked in the Manor. There is such a tense atmosphere and trying to guess who the killer is hooks you really fast though it did feel a tad slow at times. But it was still a very entertaining read!

I thoroughly enjoyed the cast of characters. I love a good sister story and Ruby and Wren were so lovely. Wren is a little too impulsive and I loved that Ruby reeled her in and had more of a level head. They complimented each other so well. Auden was so great and I loved him and Ruby together. They make such a good couple and the progression of their relationship was so well done. Evander and Winter were so good too and honestly, all the characters are so distinct and their choices were really believable. The whole cast is really good and easy to learn who is who. I really enjoyed the ending and the last chapter especially. It was so sweet!

Overall, if you love Knives Out and witches, this is the perfect book foe you!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

[arc review]
Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
The Lies We Conjure releases September 17, 2024

2.5

During a shift at the renaissance festival, twin sisters Ruby and Wren are approached by a woman who wants them to impersonate her granddaughters at a dinner party.

Before the guest even get to the midpoint of their meal, Ursula Hegemony, the High Sorcerer of the Four Lines, dies, and the manor goes into immediate lockdown.
If the guest do not follow through with the requests in Ursula’s will to identify her murderer as well as locating the four master relics all within three days, they will be stuck in the manor forever.

With comps like <I>Knives Out</I> and <I>The Inheritance Games</I> but with magic, this had everything to be my next five-star read. Unfortunately, I found the story to be excruciatingly long-winded, and it was hard to believe that none of the heirs questioned Ruby and Wren’s lack of magic or knowledge of the Four Lines.
The whodunnit character reveal was obvious from the get-go. I personally think there should have been some more complex twists incorporated to really shock the reader and add more depth to the magical world — what if instead of being two random girls from a festival, Wren and Ruby really were witches and had their memories wiped?!

Know what’s better than Knives Out? Knives Out with WITCHES. I love both fantasy and mystery so learning that Sarah combined both in The Lies We Conjure had me immediately interested. The book was well written and had many twists I didn’t see coming, including the ending. The pacing was on par and I liked having the perspective of the outsider and the insider.

Thank you NetGalley and TorTeen for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you Tor Teen and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. Super exciting! Ruby and her sister Wren are approached by an older woman, Marsyas. She will pay them to pretend to be her granddaughters at an upcoming party, since they really do look similar. Ruby is uncomfortable with the idea but before she can object Wren accepts. Seen as how they need the money Ruby reluctantly goes along with it. Auden’s magical family and the other three family lines are coming together and for the first time in ten years the Blackgate sisters have come back. He never got along with Liliana (Ruby), but he’s surprised at how different she is. Then the hostess dies. Before Ruby and Wrens eyes magic is revealed exposed. They are trapped on the grounds with witches, in order to survive they have to hide their identity and figure out who the murder is. The catch is they only have three days to do so. But Ruby and Wren are out of their league. Ruby teams up with Auden to help solve the mystery. But as the two grow closer can she hide her secret from him? And with more bodies dropping who can she and Wren trust? A locked murder mystery with the added elements of an intriguing magical system that will have you turning the pages! Charming, mysterious, with a touch of romance! Highly recommend this magical whodunnit!

Unfortunately, this wasn’t it for me. I love a good murder mystery and treasure hunt, which this book had. But ultimately, neither of those aspects of the book surprised me.

2.5/5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately, this wasn’t it for me. I love a good murder mystery and treasure hunt, which this book had. But ultimately, neither of those aspects of the book surprised me.

None of the reveals in this book had me shocked, I predicted most of them, honestly. It almost would have been more interesting if Ruby and Wren actually WERE Lavinia and Kaysa with their memories altered. And the murderer? I knew it right away. There was really never any other option simply because so many of the characters were written to be liked, and those we didn’t like had been killed.

The murderer, while having understandable motives, was so one-dimensional and ultimately cringey.

Lastly, in terms of character development, I really feel like there wasn’t any for any of the characters.

Very much just a letdown of a book for me, sadly.

This book is described as "Knives Out meets The Inheritance Games with magic" and that is a perfect description and doesn't disappoint!!

Ruby and Wren are sisters that have been hired by a woman to pretend they are her granddaughters at a formal dinner. Once they arrive the hostess is murdered, their "grandmother" disappears and they realize magic is real and so are witches.

I enjoyed this book from start to finish. I also liked that they story was told from Ruby and Auden's POV. It allows the reader to learn about the history of the witches and the conflict between the families from Auden's POV.

This book is YA but it doesn't feel that way with the storytelling. If you are looking for a fun thriller just in time for October then grab this one!

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC!

I really enjoyed this book. It kept me engaged and it only took a few days to read. I think this is going to be a good book club option for several clubs. I plan recommending to my book friends and I look forward to reading more by this author.

Wow! This book did not disappoint. Two sisters who unknowingly get involved in a dangerous dinner party with four magical families. They didn't expect that they would be fighting for their lives and falling in love. Great story. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A very entertaining combination of all my favorite elements: murder mystery, scavenger hunt and magic! Ruby and Wren are normal teenaged sisters who receive a strange request, they need to pretend to be an old lady’s grandkids at a fancy dinner party. Weird but easy, right? Think again, someone is murdered, the rest of them are trapped and there’s the teeny, tiny issue of the rest of the guests being witches. When the old lady disappears, the sisters are stuck trying to figure out how to maintain their cover, how the magic world works, whodunit, why, how and, oh yes, also hunting for magical artifacts. The chapters are told by Ruby and Auden, a member of one of the magical families. I have to say that I had the wrong idea from the beginning. The actual reveals were not the most surprising, as the plot only had a few possible outcomes, but it was the “how” that was unexpected. I liked the characters as well. Ruby and Wren are not really con artists, they never knew how serious their role was. Auden and the rest of his magical family are well written, and I enjoyed the subtle humor. I loved the setting, the scavenger hunt and the last part was very suspenseful. Enjoyable.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/Tor Publishing Group.

As others have said, this is very much a 'witchy Inheritance Games' book, with fun/goofy names and even a romance plot thrown in. The stakes are high, and the plot is intricate. I think these locked-room mysteries don't really work for me anymore, but this is certainly a fun enough spin on the genre. I can see so many people losing it over this book, particularly in the fall.

I thought this was a unique book for sure with both superntual vibes and witchy vibes. I also really liked the clue vibes infused in this read, I one downside to this book is the amount of characters in thigs read and also because we had only two POV characters so many of the characters did not feel that developed and along with that the magic system felt a bit simple!! but i found it to be a quick read!! def a unique type of read!

Dark fantasy readers, this one is for you. Melding a bit of the dark-magical family trope with dark academia, The Lies We Conjure is a locked-rooms type mystery with murder and magic and horror. Wren and her sister Ruby are hired by a woman to impersonate her estranged granddaughters at a family function, but when they arrive, the host falls dead and their employer vanishes, leaving behind the corpse of their driver. The sisters realize that they've been set up--and that the family surrounding them have strong magical powers and are in a war to take control of the family power. Slowly, they make allies and put the pieces together, and manage to survive. The (many) characters are not evenly fleshed out, but Henning does try to work against stereotypes with the large cast. Much of the magic itself is interesting and original, and readers will like the resourceful protagonists.

Oh my goodness what a great YA book! I’m getting to the point where YA can be very hit and miss for me but I thoroughly enjoyed The Lies We Conjure. The plot kept me interested and I really liked the characters. I think this will be a popular one!

Huge fan of both Knives Out and Inheritance Games so this was a must read for me. There was some good drama and twists that had me needing to find out how it all ended.